The Birkman Method®

The Birkman Method® is a personality, social perception, and occupational interest assessment identifying behavioral styles, motivations, expectations, and stress behaviors. This assessment provides an integrated, multi-dimensional and comprehensive analysis that often eliminates the need for multiple assessments. The ultimate value of the Birkman assessment process is in the results that clearly illustrate areas of strength as well as those requiring attention (stress behaviors and areas for support).

The Birkman provides both descriptive and prescriptive data. The definition of an individual’s underlying needs and motivations available through Birkman’s unique construction provides powerful insight to what drives that person’s behavior. This allows an individual to assume a much higher level of responsibility for his/her own behavior. Without this information, people tend to rely on their perceptual filters and few people are able to figure out how to get their needs met or satisfied.

Leadership Certificate Program

The following modules make up the 10-week Leadership Certificate Program. Each module is six hours long and spans two class meetings. Graded homework is assigned as well as a Birkman Method® assessment. The Birkman will identify not only your usual behaviors, but also your underlying needs, stress behaviors, and compatibility with coworkers. You will refer back to this assessment throughout the length of the course.

It's All About You

Leadership is one of the world’s oldest preoccupations and yet one of the least-understood concepts of human influence. What is the difference between leading and managing? What makes a good leader? This course will challenge your current understanding of what leadership is and prepare you to discover what leadership will mean for you.

You will learn:

To define, compare and contrast leadership versus management

The importance of knowledge and skill integration into the workplace as a tool for empowering others

To effectively use management principles and leadership principles at work

Interpersonal Mastery

From Socrates to Peter Drucker, leadership experts agree the core of leadership development is self understanding. Recent studies show that the way to lead others, to transform your organization, and to manage your future is to first know yourself.

Who am I?

How do I make decisions?

What are my values?

Learn how your behaviors and interests inform your leadership style. Understand how “leadership to the power of you” is the source of empowering yourself.

Apply the leadership tools of reflection and inquiry to personality assessment and leadership style

Motivate yourself and others

Adapt your behaviors for mutual benefit

Leading through Conflict

Exemplary leaders learn to capitalize on negotiation and conflict to further their goals and vision. What skills and traits are required to be an effective negotiator, regardless of what is being negotiated? How can you use conflict to positively affect change for yourself and others?

You will learn:

What awareness has to do with conflict and negotiation

How your personality and the personalities of others affect resolution

How to tailor your arguments toward a collaborative agreement

How to reduce conflict in your life

How to coach others to effectively negotiate positions

Emotional Intelligence and Ethics

Leadership demands integrity. What is the importance of values and how do they contribute to ethical behavior within a leadership position? Our society has provided innumerable examples of unethical behavior resulting in severe legal issues for organizations and individuals. How does an individual’s emotional intelligence contribute to the ability to stand within his or her values, conduct business on an ethical level, and avoid legal issues? Further, how do leaders promote that same behavior in those around them?

You will learn:

The importance of individual values in contributing to ethics

The role of ethics in the workplace

How to handle the gray matter

Why ethics are critically important to you as manager and leader

The legal ramifications of unethical situations

Your competencies within the realm of emotional intelligence

How to use this information to enhance your supervisory role

You in Action

The capstone prepares you for “what’s next” as you step back into your role with new knowledge of effective leadership and awareness of your own leadership styles. This course serves as a final stepping-stone to help you transition the training and skill sets you have acquired into your professional and personal life. There is also time for students to discuss these concepts and make individual observations that may benefit the group.

The University of Houston School of Continuing and Professional Studies is located in Houston, Texas and also serves the communities of Clear Lake, Sugar Land, Fort Bend, and Northwest Houston. UH Continuing Studies offers many non-credit certificate programs and dozens of online and traditional courses for adult learners.